While the Arab region faces ongoing conflict, democratic strain, and fiscal pressures, OBS 2025 results show gradual gains in budget transparency and oversight. Governments across the region are under pressure to spend more on services while managing rising debt and the costs of conflict. Strengthening citizen engagement in budget processes presents a critical pathway to rebuilding legitimacy, fostering trust, and renewing the social contract.

The OBS 2025 round, covering eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, reflects continued—though uneven—progress across all three pillars (transparency, oversight, and public participation), driven by sustained civil society engagement despite constrained political environments. These trends show that public budgets remain one of the few institutionalized arenas where accountability can still operate.

Participation remains the weakest pillar. Nevertheless, incremental gains in countries such as Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt underscore the pivotal role of civil society in enabling more meaningful and sustained engagement. Join our MENA OBS webinar for deeper insights on the budget accountability perspectives in the MENA region.